Ask Hilary: Where can I get Brad Pitt's suit?

The suit by Moss Bros, left, is a dead ringer for Brad Pitt's Tom Ford two-piece

BRAD PITT'S SUIT

Dear Hilary, My boyfriend has seen a photograph of Brad Pitt wearing a suit by Tom Ford, which I know would cost the earth. It's a pale-grey, single-breasted style, with two black buttons. Is there anything vaguely similar on this side of the pond that will not cost the price of a first-class, around-the-world trip? Avril, Haywards Heath

Dear Avril,

Unless you win the lottery, you will have to settle for the British high street; off-the-peg suits from Tom Ford's Madison Avenue boutique in New York York start from a hefty $5,000. However, we have a pretty cool version for a fraction of the price - a lightweight, pale-grey, fine puppytooth check, wool-mix, single-breasted suit, by Savoy Tailors Guild, for Moss Bros, which even has the black buttons. Sizes 34 short to 52 long, £500, Moss Bros, Oxford Street, London, W1 and branches (
www.moss.co.uk
).

CHRIS HOY'S MOTHER'S MBE TWO-PIECE

Dear Hilary, When Chris Hoy's mother received her MBE, for her fantastic charity work, she wore a beautiful grey/cream, fine polka-dot suit, with a contrasting cream collar on the jacket. My daughter is getting married in November and this would be just the ticket. Any ideas who the designer is or where she got it from? Sue, Woburn Sands

Dear Sue,

Her suit is by the Spanish brand, Presen (
www.presen.es
), and it is most likely she bought it from Chicque, Jeffery Street, Edinburgh (0131 557 3044), which stocks that label, but sadly that exact suit is sold out. Closer to you, check out Eleni's Fashion in Dunstable (01582 507069), which specialises in mother-of-the-bride and has new collections by Condici, Ispirato, Paule Fasseur and Presen, priced between £300 and £800, sizes 10-22.

Dear Hilary, I'm looking for a chic, monochromatic look for a party and loved Pixie Geldof's idea of teaming a silky top with black leggings for the Brit Awards. I discovered Pixie's top is by Ann-Sofie Back, but I probably could not afford a designer label. Do you have any suggestions for alternatives; a trawl of my local shops has failed to turn up anything. I would love to find a top like hers that I could wear with some black palazzo trousers. Francesca, Welford-on-Avon

Dear Francesca,

You're right. Pixie got her assymetric cream silk shirt, by Ann-Sofie Back, from b store in London. The original price was £285, but the style is now sold out. The closest thing I can find is a long, ivory silk shirt with shirt-tails, from All Saints (0870 4583736;
www.allsaints.com
), reduced in the sale from £125 to £37.50. Buy a couple of sizes larger than you would normally wear and let it slide off one shoulder to get Pixie's slinky-look. Add ropes of faux pearls, from £4 a strand at George @ Asda (0500 100 055), to give a touch of "Coco"-style magic, the queen of mono-chic.

ASIAN-THEMED PARTY

Dear Hilary, Can you help? I have been invited to an Asian-themed party and would like to buy something special. Can you recommend anywhere I could find something suitable, or perhaps have something made? We live in Yorkshire, but travel to London regularly. Sandra, Harrogate

Dear Sandra,

Asian-themed is a fairly broad brief, taking in China, India and Japan, for starters, each with a variety of national dress. As a first stop, why not visit Bombay Stores, Shearbridge Road, Bradford (01274 729993;
www.bombaystoresonline.com
), one of the largest Asian stores in the country, with ready-to-wear saris and shalwar kameez from £60, and traditional shawls from £6; made-to-order starts from £60-£100 depending upon fabric. Alternatively, browse
www.khushbufashions.co.uk
(020 8772 4787) for off-the-peg shalwar kameez, from £24, or formal saris, from £179.50. For a traditional Chinese look, visit
www.asiadragon.co.uk
, for cheongsams from £69.99, and Mandarin jackets (which you could wear with black silk trousers), from £49.99. In addition,
www.onlykimono.co.uk
, has polyester and silk kimonos in vibrant colours and exotic floral prints, from £50.

MY ROLE MODEL

Dear Hilary, I always admire the clothes worn by the actress, Sue Johnston, as her character, Grace Foley, in Waking the Dead; the tunics, the knits; the gorgeous jackets and trousers. Can you tell me where I can buy similar clothes, please? I live in Somerset. Jan, Ilminster

Dear Jan,

You will be pleased to know the costume designer for Waking the Dead buys Grace Foley's wardrobe in the sales at high-street stores and a few designer labels, including Jigsaw, Joseph, Gap, Marks & Spencer, Nicole Farhi, Caroline Charles and Comptoir des Cotonniers. Her style is elegant and artistic, with a bohemian edge, a working wardrobe in darker shades, with rich accents. Check out
www.wall-london.com
(0844 850 7373) for a beautiful boho-chic, ruby/purple, devoré 'Poiret' tassel-tunic, £299, and a mauve, alpaca-mix, kimono-cardigan, £275, both s/m-l/xl; Boden (0845 6775 0000) for a mustard, 'Parisienne jacket', £95; Gap (0800 427 789) for sweaters in cobalt or purple merino, £32, and navy or charcoal cashmere, £69. The new series will be on our screens in September.

VANISHING MOUSSE

Dear Hilary, I really enjoy your articles. Can you help me, please? Until recently, I was able to purchase Alberto VO5 colour mousse, but Boots has stopped stocking it. I have tried phoning the number in Basingstoke that is printed on the container, but cannot get a reply. Have they closed down their office in the UK? I'd be really grateful if you could help. Margaret, East Grinstead

Dear Margaret,

I got in touch with the Alberto Culver head office, and it confirmed that it doesn't make this product any more. However, another company that kept coming up while I was researching was Indola. It may be a solution for you. It makes temporary colour mousses, which wash out, in shades such as Chocolate Brown, Copper, Dark Blonde, Gold, Light Brown, Mahogany, Medium Blonde, Medium Brown, Pearl Beige, Pearl Grey, Plum, Red, Silver, Truly Black and Violet Extra. The product costs £6.95 for a 200ml bottle, and is available to order from
www.hairsupermarket.com
.

Also, Schwarzkopf Professional has Igora Colour Gloss mousse, which is for professional salons, but the fast and easy application makes it ideal for home use, too. It is available in Dark Brown, Light Brown, Medium Blonde, Coffee Bean, Burgundy, Tuscany, Rio Samba, Baccara, Walnut, Ice Flower, Champagne, Savannah Blonde, £9.35 for 100ml. Find Schwarzkopf Professional stockists on 01296 314 000 or
www.schwarzkopfsalonfinder.co.uk
.